City goes to 7-0, earns 5th shutout

Third-ranked Knights rout Walbrook, 36-0

Football

City was enjoying a 22-point third-quarter lead and looked to be well on its way to an easy victory yesterday when the opposing offense got the attention of Knights cornerback Sheldon Waller.

Walbrook's Jamar Peete beat Waller down the sideline for a diving reception of Raynard Walker's 25-yard pass, landing behind the Knights senior and setting up a potential score from the 3-yard line.

City's hopes for a fifth shutout of the season were in jeopardy.

But Waller recovered two plays later, as he and the Knights have done often this season. He intercepted a pass in the end zone that was intended for Peete, ending the Warriors' best scoring opportunity and helping to secure the Knights' 36-0 road win in interdivisional Baltimore City League action.

"I got burned, and it was my fault for playing the run. The guy made a great play, I'll give him that," Waller said. "But our team takes a lot of pride in protecting the end zone, and we couldn't let them get in there. So I knew I had to redeem myself.

"I had to dig down deep and make up for my mistake. That's why I came up with the ball in the end."

The win was the 17th in the past 18 games for the Knights (7-0), who have outscored this year's opponents 202-18.

Yesterday, Earl Townes and Dominick Roseborough played well on both sides of the ball. Townes had a sack and rushed for 135 yards and touchdowns from 10 and 19 yards, and Roseborough recovered a fumble and ran for 100 yards and scores of 9 and 56 yards.

"Our goal is to go undefeated," Townes said. "But we don't want to get big-headed."

While the Warriors of the city's Division II are likely eliminated from Class 3A North regional playoff contention after their third straight loss, the Knights have all but secured their second straight city Division I title with three games left.

After winning the North regional crown last season, City lost a state semifinal to Westminster, which then lost to Gwynn Park in double overtime in the state final.

"We don't have to let teams smack us around to get us going," said Rushing, who, like Waller, has four interceptions after totaling 10 last year.

"We have goals that we want to achieve, and we need to continue to work hard to achieve them."

No. 7 Edmondson 29, Patterson 0 -- The visiting Red Storm (6-1) scored all 29 points before halftime as they routed the Clippers. Quarterback Carroll Washington threw for two touchdowns and running back Sterling Jones ran for another score to lead Edmondson.